Locking device



pril 23, 1940. R, MARPLE 2,198,548

LOCKING DEVICE 2 Sheets-'Sheet 1 Original. Filed Aug. 18, 1937 By lnegl,lpYY/Lm ATTORNEYS.

April 23, 1940. R MARPLE 2,198,548

LOCKING DEVICE Original Filed Aug. 18, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /N VENTO/aFallo Ma ry/e'.

A TT ORNE YS.

Patented `Apr. 23, 1940 PATENT OFFICE 2,198,548 LOCKING DEVICE RolloMarple, Jackson, Mich., assigner to Hancock Manufacturing Company,Jackson, Mich., a corporation oi' Michigan i Original application August18, 1937, Serial No. 159,746. Divided and this application January 22,1940, Serial No. 315,122

, 'z claims.

This invention relates to locking devices for ve-v hicle doors or thelike, and in particular provides improved constructions of locks of therotary bolt type, aswell as improved constructions of lock- Vkeepersadapted for use with such locks.

'Ihe present application is a division of applicants copendingapplication Serial No. 159,746, filed August 18, 1937, entitled Lockingdevice. Objects of the invention are to provide an improved door lockand keeper particularly adapted for use on vehicle doors or the like,characterized as beirg simple in construction, economical ofmanufacture, and extremely durable and emclent in operation; to providea lock of the rotary bolt type, embodying an improved construction ofrotary bolt, adapted to co-operate in an improved manner with one or aplurality of actuating dogs therefor; to provide a lock of the 2 rotarybolt type embodyingan improved construction and arrangement of theseveral parts thereof, to accommodate the lock to limited spacerequirements; to provide an improved lock keeper, embodying a main boltholding portion,`

25 and also embodying a. retractable safety catch portion, which may beutilized withlocks having either rotary bolts or bolts of other types;and to generally improve the construction and operation of vehicle doorlocks and keepers therefor.

3o With the above, as well as other objects in view, which appear in thefollowing description and in the appended claims, preferred butillustrative embodiments of the present invention, are shown in theaccompanying drawings, throughout the 35 several views of whichcorresponding reference characters are used to designate correspondingparts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a View in elevation, illustrating the lapplication of theinvention to automobile doors;

40 Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section, taken along the line 2-2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section, taken along the line 3,-3 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig.,2;

Fig. 5 is a view takenalong the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding generally to Fig. 4, but showing theparts in a different stage of a` door closing movement; and,

Fig. '7 is a view in vertical section, taken along the line 1-1 of Fig.4.

The improved lock, which is secured within the door 2l) of theassociated vehicle, comprises generally a casing member 22; a rotarybolt 24; a

plurality of dogs designated collectively as 26, for holdingthe boltagainst rotation in a door opening direction; an outside operatedroll-back 28, for releasing the dogs 26 from the .bolt 24 in response tomovement of thel conventional outside handle; and an inside retractingmember 30, which may be operated in response to the conventional insidedoor handle, or the like, to release the dogs 26 from operativeengagement with the bolt. The keeper 32, which is described in moredetailbelow, is suitably secured to the door pillar 24, as by means of abracket 36.

The bolt 24 is rotatably journaled in the lock casing upon a trunnion orpin 40. One end of the pin 40 is supported in the flange 42 of a bracket44, which is suitably secured as by welding to the flange 46 of thepreviously identied lock casing 22. 'I'he other end of the pin 40 issupported in a supplemental casing member 48,

' which is suitably secured to the inner face of the flange 46. l

The bolt 24 is formed to provide a keeper engaging portion 50 whichprojects externally of the lock casing 22 for cooperation withthe keeper32; 'an inner or dog engaging portion 52; and a separating n or vane 54which is somewhat larger in diameter than the portions 50 and 52,

. and serves to substantially close the opening 55,

which is provided in the ange 46 of the casing 22 to accommodate thebolt. The lower half of the outwardly projecting portion 50 of the bolt24 is substantially enclosed by the previously mentioned bracket 44,which is given a substantially semi-cylindrical form for this purpose.

As most clearly appear in Figs. 3'and '7, the outerportion 50 of thebolt 24 is formed to provide a plurality of radially extending,equi-angularly spaced keeper engaging teeth or projections of teeth 50a,any one of which is eifective as described hereinafter to cooperate witheither the safety catch 6B associated with the keeper,

v or the keeper portion 62 associated therewith, to

hold the door in either the partially closed or safety position, or thefully closed position, re-

spectively. It will be appreciated that the angular spacing between theprojections and teeth 50a, relative to the spacing between the safetycatch 60 and the keeper portion 62, is such that the bolt 24 can rollover or across the keeper in a manner similar to the cooperation betweena gear and a rack..

As most clearly appears in Figs. 4, 6 and 7, the inner portion 52 of thebolt 24 is formed to provide a number of dog engaging teeth orprojections 52a, the number and angular spacing between -which'corresponds to Athe number and 'placed from the teeth 50a. Thisrelation results Ylo.

in reducing the space requirements ofthe lock,

since the positions of the dogscan thus be determined independently ofthe rotative positions of the teeth 50a. Each tooth 52a isformed toprovide a generally radially extending dog releasing portion 64, and alocking portion 66.

Thedogs.26 are provided vto cooperate with the locking portion 66 of thebolt 24 to hold the bolt 24 against rotation in 'a clockwise ordooropening direction, as'vi'ewed in Figs. 3, 4 and 6.

It is preferred to utilize a plurality ofsuch dogs of progressivelyincreasing length, to provide a take-up action for the lock, ashereinafter described. In the present instance, three dogs areillustrated, although a smaller ,ora larger number may be utilized ifdesired.

'I'he three dogs, designated as a whole as 26, are rotatably supportedin the lock casing upon a pin or trunnion 1n, which extends parallel tobut spaced from the previously mentioned bolt supporting pin 40. Theouter end of the pin 10 is supported in a member 12, the inner flanges14 ofl which are secured to the inner face of the casing ange 46, andthe outwardly extending body portion of whichserves, as most clearly apipears in Figs. 3 and 7, as a dovetail member. The

. inner end of the pin 10 is supported in the pre- "an inside dooroperating handle.

viously mentioned supplemental casing member 48. Each of three dogs,which are individually designated as 16, 18 and 80, includes avdownwardly extendingbody, which terminates ina laterally offset foot.The dog 16 is slightly longer than the dog 18, and the dog 18, in turn;is slightly longer than the dog 80. Each of the dogs 16, '18 and 80 isprovided with a biasing spring`82 individual thereto. One end of eachspring is secured between a pair of lugs 84, which are inwardly struckfrom the casing ange 46, and the free end of each spring 82 bearsagainst the edge of the associated dog and so continuously urges it in acounter-clockwise o'r locking direction, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 6- Iheoutside roll-back 28 is illustrated as being conventionally pivotallysupported in the base 86 of the casing 22, for rotation by theconventional door spindle 88. The outer end ofthe roll-back member 28normally bears against a retracting link 90, which is slidably supportedadjacent the casing ,base 86, and also serves, as hereinafter described,to cooperate with the locking mechanism toylock the outside roll-back 28against actuation. The link 90.is provided with a laterally odset kfoot9,2, which normally bears against a rearwardly 'extending shoulder 94formed on the dog 80. A spring 96,' suitably secured to the casing base86, continuously bearsl against a second shoulder 98, formed on themeans of a pin l00. One end |02 of the link 3'is adapted for connectiontothe conventional link mechanism (not shown) which may extend to Theother end H14 of the inside actuating link is formed as a foot, forcooperation with the previously menis provided with a laterally turnedportion |86,

`'whichextends around and behind the rear edges of the dogs 16 and 1 8.With the just described arrangement, it will be appreciated that clock-`wise rotation of the outside roll-back 28, as viewed in Fig. 5, causesthe link 901: move downwardly. The engagement between the foot 92 of thelink 90 and the shoulder 94 associated with the dog 80, ca'uses thedownward movement of the link 90 to be'accompanied by a clockwiserotation of the three dogs 16, 18 and 80, as viewed in Figs. 4 to 6,Athereby releasing the dogs from the bolt 24, and permitting the latterto be rotated in a clockwise or door opening direction. The same actionalso results from a counterclockwise ro- --tation of the inside link 30,and-the end |04 whereof bears against the shoulder 95 associated withthe dog 80. Upon releasing either the out- -side roll-back 28 or theinside contracting ring 30, however, as the case may be, the springs 82associated with the several dogs are effective to urge the dogs to thelocking position shown in Fig. 4. The above described arrangementwhereby a retraction of the cam 80 also retracts the other cams isclaimed -in applicants copending application Serial N o. 321,608, filedMarch 1, 1940, as a division of this application and of theaboveidentified parent application Serial No. 159,746.

I n order to lock the link 90 against downward movement, and so renderthe outside roll-back 28 ineffective to actuate the dog, the segmentallyformed locking device IIB is provided. It will be appreciated that themember Il is pivotally supported in the base 86 of casing 22, forrotation in response to.a key-actuated spindle H2. In the unlockedposition, shown in full lines in Fig. 5, the segmental member H0 is outof the path of the lower end' of the link 90, so that it is ineffectiveto prevent or control such movement of the link 9U. If the member H0 isrotated to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, however, thebody thereof is disposed in the path offmovement of the lower end of thelink 90, and prevents downward movement thereof. In addition to theforegoing locking arrangement for the outside'roll-back 28, it will benoted that the inside retracting link 30 -is provided with a projectionIII. Upon rotation of the links 30 in a. clockwise direction, as viewedin Fig. 5, the

projection III is moved into the path of and in blocking relationv tothe outside roll-back 28, thereby preventing rotation thereof in .anunlocking direction. To release the roll-back 28 from the just-mentionedlocking action, the link gli) rray be returned -to the position shown ing. l Referring particularly toFig. 3, the keeper 32 comprises a body,which may be and preferably is formed as a relatively heavy metalstamping, and which is formed to define the previously mentioned boltengaging surface 62. The previously mentioned safety catch 60 is and maybe formed as a die casting, or the like, vand 'is pivotally supportedupon a pin H4, which extends between and is supported in the oppositeside wall ofthe keeper 32. A spring H6 is connected between the catch 60and the keeper body, and continuously urges the safety catch 60 to theactive position shown in Fig. 3. It will be lnoted that the otherwisecontinuous body of the keeper 32 is cut away', as indicated at H8, toafford a slot or opening through which the safety catch may move fromthe active position shown in Fig. 3 to a retired position. It willbenoted that the back of `the safety catch 60 abuts the portion H9 ofthebody of the striker plate 32, so that such portion H9 forms a limit stopto the rotation thereof under the influence of the spring H6.

Also as clearly appears in Fig. 3 when the door is in a closed position,the keeper 32 is in a position between the rotary bolt 24 and thepreviously mentioned dovetail member 12. The upper surface of the keeper32, as well as the under surface of the dovetail member 12, aredownwardly inclined in the direction of a door closing movement. Withthis relation, the dovetail member 12 tends to serve as a stop tomovement of the keeper 32 in the leftward or door closing direction asinfluenced by the bolt 24. The members 24, 32 and 12, accordingly,function in accordance with the functioning of the usual separatelyformed door dovetails associated with locks of the conventional slidablebolt type, and permit such separate dovetail structures to be en-Vtirely dispensed with in the practice of the invention. i

Considering the operation as a whole of the embodiment shown in Figs. lthrough 7, the parts are shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 7 in positionoccupied thereby when the door is in a fully or tightly closed position.Under these circumstances, the upper tooth 58a of the outer portion ofthe rotary bolt bears solidly against the cooperating surface 62 of thekeeper 32, forcibly wedging the latter between the bolt 24 and thedovetail member 12. At the same time, the foot of the longest dog 16bears solidly against the upper substantially horizontally disposedlocking surface 66 associated with the inner portion of the bolt 24. Dog16 is thus effective to entirely prevent any clockwise rotation of thebolt 24, so that the door is positively held in the just mentioned fullyor tightly closed position.

To open the door, either the outside roll-back 28, or the insideoperating link may be actu-/ ated, to force the shoulder 84 associatedwith the dog 88 downwardly, thereby rotating all three of the dogs 16,18 and 80 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 4 and 6. Thisrotation of the dogs, which takes place in opposition to the forces oftheir associated biasing springs 82,

moves the feet thereof out of range of the teeth Y 52a of the innerportion of the rotary bolt 24, thereby permitting the latter to befreely rotated in a clockwise or door opening direction, in response tothe movement thereover of the keeper surface 62 and the safety catch 68.

Upon release of the inside retractng link 38 or the outside roll-back28, which may be expected t'o occur shortly after the keeper safetycatch 60 passes beyond the bolt 24, the springs 82 again becomeeffective to return the dogs to the position shown in, Fig. 4, in whichthey are effective to hold the bolt in the corresponding illustratedposition.

The return movement of the dogs, also causes the outside roll-back 28and the inside link 30 to resume the position shown in Fig. 5. Themovement of the roll-back 28 is also influenced by the spring 96, andthe movement of the link 38 may also be influenced by the-conventionalreturn springmechanism (not shown) associated therewith.

i During a door closing movement, the bolt 25 moves to the rightrelative to the keeper 32 as viewed in Fig. 3. As the vehicle doorapproaches a partially closed position, corresponding to theconventional safety position, the safety catch `60 engages theright-hand face of the upper tooth a associated with the rotary bolt24.Continued door closing movement causes the catch 88 to apply a rotativeforce to the bolt 24. The springs 82, however, associated with thelocking dogs, are stronger thanthe spring II8 associated with the safetycatch 80, so that no rotative movement of the bolt 24 occurs. Instead.the safety catch rotates in.a clockwise direction relative to the keeper60 to a retired position, in which the keeper 32'may be moved past theupper tooth 50a. As soon as the end of the safety catch 68 passes beyondthe upper bolt tooth, the spring H6 associated therewith is renderedeective to cause Athe safety catch to return to the active positionshown in Fig. 3, in which position it is effective to cooperate with theleft-hand face of the upper bolt tooth 50a and positively prevents thedoor from again being fully opened, without again actuating the dogsdesignated collectively as 26 to release the bolt 24.

If the door closing movement is continued beyond the safety positionJust described, the sloping face |20 of the keeper 32 is brought intoengagement with the right-hand face of the upper bolt tooth 58a, andapplies a positive rotative force to the bolt 24. Due to the fact thatthe bolt holding effect of the dogs, designated collectively as 26,results from the cooperation between the feet thereof and the boltfaces, and not from the strength of the biasing springs 82, it ispossible to utilize springs 82 which are relatively weak. Accordingly, aminimum of door closing force is required to render the keeper face |20effective to rotate the bolt 24 in a clockwise direction, as viewed inFigs. 3, 4 and 6. During such movement, a leading face 64 of an innerbolt tooth 52a bears against the rear edges of the dogs, and turns thesedogs from the positions shown in Fig. 4 to positions corresponding tothose shown in Fig. .6.

When the door reaches a substantially closed position, the justmentioned inner bolt tooth face 64 passes beyond the heel of the shorterdog 80, permitting the latter to ride up over the rounded end of the dogengaging bolt face 66. As soon as this action takes place, the spring82, associated with the dog 88, becomes effective to rotate the latterin a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, and forciblycontinue the rotation of the bolt 24 in the counter-clockwise or doorclosing direction. At slightly spaced stages in the continued doorclosing movement, the bolt face 64 successively passes beyond the heelsof the dogs 18 and 16, rendering the springs 82 associated with thesedogs successively effective to continue the counter-clockwise or doorclosing rotation of the bolt 24.

It will be, appreciated that at any stage of the door closing movementat which theinner bolt face 64 passes beyond the heel of a selected dog,rendering such dog effective to assume the position shown in Fig. 4,such dog becomes effective to prevent a clockwise or door openingmovement of the bolt 24. In such instance, any tendency of the bolt torotate in a clockwise direction applies a substantially radial force tothe particular dog. The parts are preferably so adjusted that theshorter dog reaches the Just mentioned blocking position as an incidentto each door closing movement. Accordingly, even though the vehicle dooris only very lightly closed, a positive lock is applied to the door.

With the dog 80 in the blocking position, the two longer dogs 18 and 16occupy positions in which the springs 82, associated therewith, arestill effective to continuously urge the bolt 24 in a counter-clockwiseor door closing direction. 78

In addition to being positively held against an opening movement,accordingly, the door is continuously urged to a further closedposition.

' otherwise In certain instances it may be found that the forces of thesprings 82 acting upon the associated longer dogs 16 and 18 will beeffective to cause the door closing movement to continue to a point atwhich the intermediate dog 18 is in the blocking position. i In otherinstances, as where the resistance to further door closing movement issuicient to prevent such continued movement, it is found that roadshocks or the like cause the doom` to momentarily move inwardly a slightamount relative to the vehicle body. Any such inward movementimmediatelyrelieves the existing resistance to continued counter-clockwise movementof the bolt 24, and is immediately taken up by a movement of theintermediate dog 18, or the final dog 'I6 tothe blocking position. Itwill be seen, accordingly, that the several dogs being of slightlydifferent length, assume the blocking positions thereof at differentsubstantially closed positions of the door, and that a minimum expectedclosing force of the door is suflicient to render at least the shortestdog 80 effective to reach the blocking position, leaving the remainingdogs effective to take up any additional closing movement.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present inventionprovides extremely and effective door lock and keeper constructions,which are simple and economical of manufacture, and which areexceptionally efficient and satisfactory in operation. It will also beappreciated that the specifically described embodiments areillustrative, and that various modifications in the form, number andarrangement of the described parts may be made within the spirit andscope of the invention.

What is claimed is: A

1. In a latch, a rotary securing means having a first series oftooth-like projections adapted to cooperate with an associated holdingpart, and having a second series of dog engaging surfaces correspondingin number and angular spacing to the said projections, said secondseries being axially and angularly displaced from said first mentionedprojections.

2. In a latching device of the rotary bolt type, the combination of acasing member, a rotary bolt mounted on said casing and having a firstseries of tooth-like projections positioned externally of the casing andeach having a surface adapted for cooperation with an associated lock rkeeper, and having a second series of tooth-like projectionscorresponding in number and spacing to the keeper engaging projectionsand each having a dog-engaging surface, said dog-engaging surfaces'being positioned internally of the casing and being axially andangularly displaced from the corresponding surfaces of said keeperengaging projections, and a dog mounted within said casing forcooperation with said dog engaging surfaces.

3. In a locking devicel of the rotary bolt type,

the combination of a casing member adapted to be mounted on anassociated door, a bolt rotatably mounted on said casing forrotationlabout a substantially horizontal axis which extendstransversely of the direction of door closing movement, said bolt havinga series of tooth-like projections positioned externally of said casingand each having a surface for cooperation with an associated keeper, andhaving a second series of projections corresponding in number andangular spacing to said tooth-like projections and each having adog-engaging surface, said dog engaging surfaces being positionedinternally of said casing and oii'set angularly from the correspondingsurfaces of said keeper engaging projections, and clogging meanspositioned within said casing for cooperation with said second series ofprojections.

4. In a latch mechanism, the combination of a securing means mounted forrotary movement and having a first series of heads each of which isadapted for engagement with a cooperating part, said securing meanshaving a second series of heads corresponding in numberand angularspacing to the rstseries of heads,saidsecond series of heads beingaxially and angularly displaced from said first heads, and cam meanscooperable with any of the heads of said second series for exerting acamming action on said securing means whereby to maintain a head of saidfirst series in engagement with said part.

5. In a door lock, a rotary bolt member having a first series oftooth-like projections adapted to cooperate with an associated lockkeeper. and having a second series of dog engaging surfaces axially andangularly displaced from said first series of keeper engagingprojections.

6. In a locking device of the rotary bolt type, the combination of acasing member, a rotary bolt mounted on said casing and having a iirstseries of tooth-like projections adapted for cooperation with anassociated lock keeper, and having a second series of dog engagingtoothlike projections axially and angularly displaced from said keeperengaging projections, and a dog mounted within said casing forcooperation with said dog engaging projections.

from the corresponding surfaces of said keeper"

